Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Freeride’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Freeride’ particularly characterized by flowers which are purple/violet with very thin white edges; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Freeride’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Freeride’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freeride’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freeride’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2003 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Yu Pin Lover’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Ruey Lih Beauty’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freeride’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2011 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Freeride’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are purple/violet with very thin white edges;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.         In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Freeride’, the         flowers of the female parent ‘Yu Pin Lover’ are purple/violet         with purple stripes and a white haze in the center, the flowers         of the male parent ‘Ruey Lih Beauty’ are purple/violet which         turns into white closer to the edges and a few white spots in         the center. Whereas the flowers of ‘Freeride’ are purple/violet         and have thin light purple/violet edges.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Freeride’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Joyride’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,153. The petal arrangement for ‘Joyride’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,153 is overlapping, while ‘Freeride’ is free. The column length for ‘Joyride’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,153 is about 15 mm, while ‘Freeride’ is 8 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Freeride’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Freeride’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Freeride’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Freeride’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Freeride’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Freeride’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Freeride’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Freeride’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Freeride’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Freeride’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Freeride’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Freeride’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Yu             Pin Lover’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Ruey Lih Beauty’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190B); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 70 cm. Spread: about 40-60 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-3 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Alternate, clasping.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 22 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137B) with brown (RHS N200A).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—         -   Pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color of midvein.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under side:             yellow/green (RHS 137A). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 8-18.         -   Length.—About 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 50 cm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 20-30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 137A) with brown (RHS 200A).         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 25 mm. Diameter (at             midpoint): about 20 mm. Shape: asymmetric oval. Color:             red/purple (RHS 59A) with (RHS 72A and RHS 72B).             Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-3             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 7 cm. Diameter: about 90 mm. Quantity and arrangement:             three petals and three sepals. Arrangement of petals are             free, not touching. Petals are more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: retuse.             Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate.             Length: about 57 mm. Width: about 41 mm. Texture: Upper             surface: smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and             satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper side: The lateral             petal upper surface main color is purple/violet (RHS N81A)             with a red/purple (RHS 72A) haze at center and towards the             base of petal. Towards the margin there is a transition of             netting or venation covering about 1 cm from margin edge in             dark purple violet (venation) and light purple with a very             thin (RHS NN155C) between 1-2 mm wide at the margin edge.             Under side: purple/violet (RHS N81B). Labellum: Overall             shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central             junction of the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe.             Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the column; the             midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2 filiform             appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are             ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a bump             and a rib on it. Margin of the midlobe and lateral lobes:             entire and weakly undulate. Apex of the midlobe and lateral             lobes: rounded. Length midlobe: about 25 mm. Width midlobe             (not flattened): about 22 mm. Length lateral lobe: about             18 mm. Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about 15 mm.             Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum: about             15 mm. Texture of the midlobe and lateral lobes: Upper &             under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):             Mid lobe, upper and under side: Main color is purple/violet             (RHS N81A) with a red/purple (RHS 72A) haze. No stripes and             spots. Lateral lobes, upper side: Main color is             purple/violet (RHS N81A) with a few amount of red/purple             stripes and spots (RHS 59A). At the base some white (RHS             N155C) with a purple haze (RHS N78D). Under side: Main color             is purple/violet (RHS N81A). At the upper edge white (RHS             N155C) with a purple haze (RHS N78D). Cirrhi: About 8 mm.             Color: purple/violet (RHS N81A). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 4 mm. Width (not flattened): about 5 mm.             Color: white (RHS N155C) with a purple haze (RHS N78D) and             purple/violet (RHS N81A). Yellow/green (RHS 153D) on top.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length:             about 40 mm. Width: about 25 mm. Apex: rounded. Texture:             Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when             fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: Main color is             purple/violet (RHS N81A) with a red/purple (RHS 72A) haze in             the center and with some small purple spots at the base (RHS             75D). Edges are very thin white (RHS NN155C). Under side,             dorsal: purple/violet (RHS N81B). Upper side, lateral: Main             color is purple/violet (RHS N81A) with a red/purple (RHS             72A) haze in the center and with some small purple spots             (RHS 75D) at the center and near the edges. At the base some             white (RHS N155B) with red/purple spots (RHS 59A). Edges are             very thin white (RHS NN155C). Under side, lateral:             purple/violet (RHS N81B). p2 Pedicel.—Length: about 40 mm.             Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color:             starting at the flower purple (RHS 76C) which runs into             purple/violet (RHS N81B) and then purple (RHS N79). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:             purple/violet (RHS N81A).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color: orange             (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             purple/violet (RHS N81D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Freeride’, as illustrated and described herein. 